Seat for vehicles



July 9, 1929. A. H. LEIPEB'I' SEAT FOR VEHICLES Filed. April 5, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet l Jul 9, 1929. A. H. LEIPERT SEAT FOR VEHICLES Filed April5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill) Patented July 9, 1929.

l E l) S T A T ES PATENT (lFl 'lfili.

AUGUST H. LEIPERT, OF COLLEGE POINT, NEW YORK, AEaSIGNOlt '10IN'LtERNATIOTNAL MOTOR COMYLPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATZON Oil?DELAWARE.

SEAT FOR Application filed April 5,

ilhisinvention relates to an improved construction and suspension 0tseats tor vehicles and is designed with particular reference to seatsfor motor vehicles such as busses which may be subjected to road shocks.The principal object of the invention 1s to provide mm-n'ietallicyielding,- suspension means for the seat :lirame thereby elii'ninatingthe use 0t metallic or similar spring elements and providing a simpleand inexpensive construction easy of assembly and readily accessible torrepair or replacement. Still another ob ect oi the invention is to mountas a unit the back and seat :lrames by the improved devices to the endthat these frames will have no relati ve movement with respect to oneanother such as might. cause discomfort to the occupant and injury tohis clothing. More particularly, the invention provides for thesuspension of a seat on its trams through the intermediary oi yieldingcords which may be, tor instance, of the type now commonly known asaeroplane cords. Such cords are of stranded silk and rubber and haveample mcchani 'al strength for the load to be suspended and yet arenon-metallic and yielding to insure proper riding qualities. Thesunplicity and cheapness of the construction results, in part, from thefact that the seat and trame being termed as a unit separate ttrom thesupporting base are connected 'tllQlGliOlW passing the non-n'ietallicyielding suspensnon elements from one to another. the connecting strandsbeing suitably anchorm'l. In the preferred embodiment it has been foundexpeditious to employ a single endless strand at each side of the seatas a connecting element anchoringonly the ends of this strand whilepassing it at intermediate points over and around blocks or clamps orthe like carried respectively, with the seatand with the frame. Atdesired points clamps are employed while at other points tree engagementmay be cliected, the result being that movement of the seat to thedesired extent and in the desired planes is yieldingly pcrn'iittcd whileexcessive movement thereof in, any direct-ion is el'liectively butyieldingly :niubbed.

The invention will be described more particularly in coimection with theembodiment shown in the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective of a vehicle seat embodying theinvention.

Figjgure 2 is a view on a somewhat; larger VEHICLES.

1624. Serial N0. 705:,367.

plane in side elevation thereof indicating particularly the form oil thescat frame and the disposition of the supporting cords with respectthereto. I

l igure 3 is a ilragn'lentary View, partly in transverse section andpartly in ele ation, showing the relation oi the unitary seat and backjlral'nes to the base and the arrangen'ient oil? supporting cords.

Figures 4l-7 are fragmentary detailed views oft suitable connections forthe cord.

The invention is not concerned with the particular i'iature oi the seatsince it may have any desired term or finish and may indeed be in thenature ol a couch or bedwithout departing from the spirit of theinvention. .llie drawings are intended merely to illustrate acmiventiomil type oi. single seat adapt ed for use in motor busses andin which side SUPPOIlTlHg frames at rest on the floor ot the vehicle anda seat frame Z) and back frame 0 which comprise a unitary structure areto be n'niinnted on the side :lirames a in such a manner a s willsupport the occupant con'rliortably. The principal object oil thepresent invention is to effect this connectirm by non-metallic n'ieanswhich are simple and inex pensive. and ilacilitate the assembl inn oilparts and possess the advantage o'l adequate mechanical strength withyielding; properties to insure con'ithu't and the absence ol suchobjections as are often found in metallic conn .tions such as wear,noise and expense. it will be evident that where the seat frame 7) andback ilan'ie c are :lim'med as a unitary section. and then suppmrtedyieldinn'ly on the side frames (1 the passeng, 1' will be carried withthe ut most con'il ort since no relative n'ioven'ient between the parts7) and c possible and no resultant disarrangement o'li clothing mayensue.

The invention is not to be lin'iited' to the particular means by whichthe suspension elements are made useful in the combination illustratedand the 'l(,)llo\\'inp; dcscri )tio'n is given merely by way ofillustration of one way of using non-metallic yielding: cords tor thesimport ot the sea t frame. Referring now to the cord used at one sideoi the seat a sin gle long strand (Z of cord having; adequate mechanicalstrength andv yielding; properties may be ern 'iloyed. Such a cord ist'ound commercially in the so-called aeroplane cord. One end may beclamped at the rear upper side of the innersurface of the side frame orCPI 2 i V I 1,720,485

by any suitable clamping device illustrated as a plate retained by abolt 6. From this anchorage the cord is passed around a curvedseatsecured to the side of the seat frame 6 which may be in the form ofa semi-circular block From thence the cord may be passed upwards over asimilar curved block f which is also secured to the inner face of theside frame a near its upper edge. The lengths of cord cl, (Zrespectively, between the clamp e and the block f and between the block7 and the block f are preferably disposed vertically. From the block 7the cord is passed downwardly under a similar block f secured on theside of the seat frame Z). From thence the cord may pass upwardly over asimilar block f near the upper and. front edge of the side frame a butalso on the inner face thereof. From the block a length (Z of the cordpasses directly downwardly in a vertical plane to a point of anchorageon a bracket (4 to which the side frame a is secured. The anchorage onthis bracket may be effected by a strap 9 retained by screws 9. From the"clamp g a length (Z of the cord is extended upwardly and rearwardly andled to a point near the rear edge of the seat frame 7) whereit issecured on the underside by a clamp h. "A length (Z of the cord may becarried directly downwardly from the seat frame I) to a bracket a whichsupports the side frame a at its rear edge, where such length is securedto the bracket by means of a clamp i. From the clamp i a length (Z ofthe cord is led forwardly and upwardly and secured to r the underside ofthe seat frame Z) at a point adjacent its forward edge by means of aclamp is. This clamp may be attached at the end of the cord d.

From the description given the uses and advantages of the improvedsuspension should be apparent. The seat frame 7) carrying the back framea is supported yieldingly by the vertical lengths of cord extendingbetween the side frame a and the seat in the manner described, two ofthe intermediate lengths al, (Z being disposed vertically near the rearof the side'frame in the belief that the bulk of I the weight will beapplied at about that point.

Front and rear movements of the seat are resisted yieldingly by theinclined lengths d", d Any tendency for vertical movements are snubbedby the lengths d 0Z It may be advisable to assemble the parts with thecord under tension, that is, subject to an internal static load.Subsequent adjustment of its length or tension may be readily effectedthrough the various clamps c, 9, l1, and Zr. Any lateral movennmt of theseat frame I) may be resisted directly by means of side plates 6 whichbear against: the side frames (1.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the invention is not to be limited to theparticular type of frame supported so long as the general requirementsare as described. h'halitii-ations in the details of connections may hemade as desired.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a frame for the support of anoccupant, a suppm-ting frame therefor, non-metallic yielding cords andmeans connecting lengths of said cords operatively with the two framesto resist relative vertical movements of the frame member nnder tension,and means for connecting other lengths of the cords to resist relativefore and aft movements of the frame under tension.

2. In combination with a seat frame and side frames for its support,non-metallic yielding connections therebetwcen comprising a non-metallicyielding cord, means engaging lengths of the cords with the respectiveside frames and with the seat frame at its opposite sides, said cordsbeing disposed generally in vertical planes and engaged with the parts,certain of the lengths resisting. under tension, movements of the seat.frame upwardly and others the. movement thereof down-- wardly.

3. In combination with side frames, av seat frame disposed therebctween.lengths of flexible cord connected to the side frame and to the seatframe at each side thereof to snpport the latter yicldingly, means forclampi up; one end of each of said lengths to aside frame for anchoringthereto, blocks carried by the side and seat frames, IOSPttftlYtl), saidlengths being passed freely over the blocks of the respective sides andmeans for anchoring the lengths intermediate their ends to the side andseat frames whereby individual lengths will resist under tension certainmovements of th seat frame.

This spem lication signed this 2nd day of April, A. D. 1924.

AUGUST H. LEIPERT.

